Now that the draft guide is in the books, a few days of purposely ignoring football have gone by and I've re-introduced myself to my wife (I think we're going steady), it dawned on me that we are a mere 21 days away from the draft. You could say it's actually 22 days for Packers fans thanks to the lack of a first round pick, but trades can happen - you never know! So I will still be following along on Thursday Night as the first round unfolds, albeit without the anticipation of waiting for the upcoming Packers' selection.That will most likely have to wait for Friday night, but it will be a different feel. It will be more of hoping one of those handful of top-50 players you covet for the Packers will still be there.
If there is one player I covet for the Green Bay Packers, it's San Diego State CB Chris Johnson. He has a solid "Packery" frame with good size for an outside corner at 6' 3/8" 193 lbs. His athletic traits are elite and he showed them off at the combine, registering a 9.82 RAS score. Beyond numbers, he's a fluid mover that's able to flip those hips and stay with receivers across the field. He has experience playing multiple concepts; quarters, cover two, off man and press. He's impactful - in 2025, he had 49T, 3TFL, 9PBU, 2QBH, 1FF and 4 INT (two pick sixes). He made the second team AP All-American team based off of his 2025 play and he's a high floor, higher ceiling prospect.
For my money, cornerback is the top "need" position for the Packers. As the Packers are always looking a year or two ahead, the fact that their two starters will both be restricted free agents after this season means the Packers HAVE to draft a player who has starting cornerback traits. Not just depth cornerback help, but true starting cornerback help, even if he doesn't break through as a starter until next season.That's not to say they don't need additional help in the room, so cornerback is also my favorite position for doubling up in this draft. Perhaps a special teamer/backup cornerback type in the fifth or sixth round would be helpful.
But what if Johnson or a suitable alternative cornerback is not there for the Packers at 52? I'd say the odds would favor the Packers looking towards the other position they covet near the top of the draft - edge rusher. Sure they have Micah Parsons, but Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are gone. Lukas Van Ness hasn't lived up to his first round draft status and is on the final year of his contract (unless the Packers decide to exercise the fifth year option and guarantee him an estimated $14M for 2027). Behind Van Ness, there is Brenton Cox Jr, Barryn Sorrell, Aaron Mosby, and Collin Oliver. Cox and Mosby are on one year contracts, we don't know what Oliver can be and Sorrell has shown some flashes, but is he a starter? I can totally see the Packers hitting up the EDGE position with pick 52. Names like Zion Young, R Mason Thomas or Dani Dennis-Sutton come to mind as players that could be available at pick 52,
Yes, I'm trying to build some excitement for pick #52. Not sure if it's working...
Go Pack Go!